Animated book



Jan. 18, 1944. J. GROSS 2,339,334

ANIMATED BOOK Filed May 4. 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3 mac Win10 Jan. 18, 1944. J noss 2,339,634

ANIMATED BOOK Filed May 4, 1942 2 Sheets-$heet 2 IE: "TUE i. I 1; -43 F ll- 68 E! W :5 4-9" 'I l: 44 :I

Jase p1 7 rams Patented Jan. 18, 1944 ANIMATED BOOK Joseph Gross, Scranton, Pa., assignor of onethird to Irving Corr, and one-third to Patrick L. Donahoe, both of Scranton, Pa.

Application May 4, 1942, Serial No. 441,704

Claims.

This invention relates to animated cartoons or pictures.

An object of this invention is to provide a book or folio which is provided with superposed sheets, one of which is movable relative to the other, and each sheet bearing a cartoon or picture which is so arranged as to produce the illusion of motion of the objects on each sheet when one sheet is vibrated relative to the other sheet.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a book or folio an operator for the vibrating sheet so that the desired vibratory motion may be given to such sheet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a book or folio which will provide amusement and entertainment for young and old persons.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which may be constructed and sold at small cost.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the drawings, wherein embodiments of the invention are shown, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an animated book embodying this invention, showing the book in open position,

Figure 2. is a fragmentary perspective view of the book with one of v the animated leaves in raised position,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken through one of the leaves of the book,

Figure 4 is a plane View of a folio embodying a modification of this invention,

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the structure shown in Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a detail side elevation of the structure shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral III designates generally a book which is formed of a cover II having a plurality of leaves I2 secured to the back or hinge portion I3 thereof. The leaves I2 have secured to the front face thereof a superposed sheet I4 which is secured to a leaf I2 by means of a pair of staples I5 or other suitable fastening means. a

The sheet I4 is substantially rectangular in plan but has an upper edge thereof cut off on an angle as at I6 and the staples I5 are disposed inwardly from the angled portion I6 so that when the free or lower edge I! of the sheet I4 is raised and vibrated, the sheet I4 will be swung on an oblique angle with respect to the length of the sheet I I. The leaf I2 on the front side thereof has printed or otherwise impressed thereon a picture or cartoon I8 which may be an animal or one or more persons, and the front or upper side of the superposed sheet I4 has printed or otherwise disposed thereon a cartoon or picture I9 which is of the same character as the picture or cartoon I8, but the cartoon or picture I9 shows the object in a slightly different position than the cartoon or picture I8. The reason for this is that when the lower or free edge I! of the sheet I4 is raised and then vibrated, there is g ven an illusion of the object represented by the pictures or cartoons I8 and I9 moving.

The leaf I2 may also have secured to the front face thereof a second object bearing sheet 20 which may be similar in every detail to the object bearing sheet I4, and the sheet 20 is secured to the leaf I2 by means of a pair of staples or other fastening members 2I. The upper edge of the sheet 20 is also cut off at an angle as at 22 so that when the opposite lower corner 23 thereof is raised and the sheet 20 vibrated, the object 24 which is on the upper face of the leaf I2 will be exposed and the object 25 on the vibratory sheet 20 will coact with the object 24 in giving the illusion of motion or animation to the two objects 24 and 25.

In Figure 2 there is disclosed another leaf of the book I0 which has secured thereto a pair of vibratory sheets 26 and 21 which are similar in every detail tothe vibratory sheets I4 and 20. The only difference between the structure shown in Figure 2 and that shown in Figure 1 is that the object 28 on the sheet 29 is different from the objects I8 and 24 and the object 30 is also different from the objects I8 and 24, but is similar to the object 28. The two objects 28 and 30 represent the same character or object in different positions so that when the sheet 26 is raised and vibrated in its raised position, the illusion is given of movement to the two objects 28 and 30.

In Figures 4 to 6, inclusive, there is disclosed a further modification of this invention. The

numeral 3| designates generally a folio or folded card or other fairly stiff article which includes an upper sheet 32 and a lower sheet 33 which is substantially longer than the upper sheet 32. The two sheets or leaves 32 and 33 are hinged together as at so that the upper leaf 32 may be rocked or vibrated relative to the lower sheet 33. The upper sheet 32 has secured to the upper or outer side thereof an object 35 which may be a figure or several figures which are to be used in giving the illustion of motion upon vibration of the sheet 32. The lower sheet 33' has printed, stamped or otherwise secured to the upper side thereof an object 36 similar to the object 35, but showing the object 36 in a slightly different position with respect to at least certain portions thereof.

In order to provid a means whereby the upper sheet 32 may be readily vibrated or rocked n the hinge 34 relative to the lower sheet 32, I have provided an animator or vibrating member, generally designated as 31. The animating member 31 comprises an elongated bar 38 which is disposed inwardly of a folded portion 39 of the sheet 32 and the bar 38 has formed integral therewith or fixed thereto a pair of right angular arms 40 and 4|. The arms 4!! and 4|. are also disposed within the tube formed by folding or reverting the adjacent edge of the sheet 3 2 as indicated at 39. The right angular'extension M is the inner extension and the right angular extension 40 is the outer extension. An intermediate extension 42 is carried by an intermediate portion of the bar or rod 38 and is of 'a length equal to the lengths of the extensions 40 and 4|.

A shaft 43 is fixed to the bar or rod 38 adjacent the inner end portion thereof and outwardly from the hinge 34. The shaft 43 has formed integral therewith an L-shaped bell crank 44 which terminates in a reverted outer end portion 45. The outer leg 46. of the bell crank 44 constitutes a finger gripping member so that when the outer leg 46 is grasped between the thumb and index finger, asshown in Figure 5, the crank 44 may be readily rocked with the. hinge 34 as a pivot for the movable sheet 3.2.

As shown in Figure, 6, the crank 44 is disposed on an oblique angle with respect to the length of the rod 3 8 so that the outer leg 46 of the bell crank will be in an upwardly offset position with respect to a plane surface when the lower sheet 35! rests on, such plane. surface.

In the use of this animated structure, the structure shown in Figures 1' and 2 is. animated by grasping one corner of the superposed sheet I4, and preferably, the inner lower corner of the sheet I4 is grasped between the thumb and index finger. The sheet I4 is then raised and vibrated inits raised position so that persons viewing the book will be able to see the object 58 carried by the sheet I2 and also the object I9 carried by the sheet I4. The rapidity of the vibration of the, sheet. I4 will give the illusion of rapid motion to the objects carried by the two sheets I 2.and I4.

The structure, shown in Figures 4 to 6 is operated by holding. the lower sheet 33 of the folio on a plane surface with one hand and then grasping the bell crank 44 in the other hand. The upper or movable sheet 32 is then raised a slight degree, and rapidly vibrated in its raised position so that a person may. see the object 36 carried by the lower sheet 33 and alsothe object 35 carried by the upper or outer side of the upper sheet 32. e

The animator structure 31 may be formed-out of a fairly stiff wire so that the animator 31 can be constructed at a very low cost. The folio 3| may be constructed at a very, low cost and the entire cost of the animator structure 31 will be sufliciently low so that it may be sold at a low cost and still at a fair profit to the manufacturer.

The devices hereinbefore described are constructed as amusement or entertainment structures which may be amusing and entertaining to both the young and the old.

It will be understood that the objects herein disclosed may be in the form of cartoon drawings, prints, pictures, or photographs, the illustration of cartoon drawings being only one form of illustration of the animated object,

' What I claim is:

1. An animated book comprising a pair of leaf members hinge'dly secured together, each of said members having a similar object on the upper side thereof with the object on one member being disposed in a different position than the object on the other member, and a bell crank carried by one of said members projecting laterally of an edge thereof whereby said one member may be vibrated relative to the other member to thereby produce the illusion of motion to said object.

2. An animated book comprising a pair of leaf members hingedly secured together, each of said members havin a similar object on the upper side thereof with the object on one member being disposed in a different position than the ob- .iect on the other member, and a bell crank carried by one of said members projecting laterally of an edge thereof whereby said one member may be vibrated relative to the other member to thereby produce the illusion of motion to said object, said bell crank being disposed outwardly of the fulcrum of said members.

3. An animated book comprising a pair of leaf members hingedly secured together, each of said members having a similar object on the upper side thereof with the object on one member being disposed in a different position than the object on the other member, an inwardly folded edge portion carried by one of said members, an elongated bar Within said folded portion, lateral extensions carried by said bar, and a bell crank fixed to said bar and extending laterally of an edge of said one member, said bell crank also extending angularly with respect to the length of said one member whereby the outer portion of said bell crank will be offset with respect to the upper side of said one member.

4. An animated. book comprising a pair of elongated leaf members hingedly secured together, each of said members having a similar object on the upper. side thereof with the object on one member being disposed in a different position than the object on the other members and an xtended operator extending from a longitudinal edge of one ofsaid members, said operator. including a bell crank having an outer leg thereof disposed obt'usely with respect to a face of said one member whereby said outer leg will be disposed in a raised position when the other of said members is disposed on a plane surface.

5. A folio including an upper sheet and a'lower sheet substantially longer than the upper sheet. said sheets being, hinged together and means whereby the upper sheet may be vibrated on said hinge, relative to said lower sheet, said means including an animating member, said animating member comprising an elongated bar and a pair of right angular arms formed integral therewith.

JOSEPH GROSS. 

